Hybrid snow blower

ABSTRACT

A hybrid snow blower kit for use on a vehicle, comprising: a frame for attachment to the vehicle, this frame comprising an opened plow housing portion defining a plow wall having a snow outlet, a pair of first connecting sockets on the plow wall and a pair of second connecting sockets on the plow wall. A powered auger actuator is carried by the frame. A first auger assembly can be installed in the pair of first connecting sockets and rotated by the auger actuator. A second auger assembly can be installed in the pair of second connecting sockets and rotated by the auger actuator. A discharge chute is mounted to the frame and connected to the snow outlet. A powered blower member in the snow outlet is for blowing snow from the plow housing portion through the discharge chute. Either one of the first and second auger assemblies of the hybrid snow blower kit can be operatively mounted to the frame.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to snow blower equipments for cleaning up roads in northern climates during winter months, and more particularly to a hybrid snow blower that can be equipped with more than one different snow blowing implements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Municipalities in northern climates have the responsibility of removing ground snow from public roads during winter months. This is usually performed first with a grader type vehicle, with the inclined ground scraping blade thereof shifting ground snow from the road to the curb side of the road; and then with a snow-blower tractor, having a front auger assembly to grab the shifted ground snow and propel same toward a dump truck, for transport of this snow to a snow dump. These types of heavy machinery are very expensive, both in capital cost and in maintenance.

Depending on the type of snow and on weather conditions, different types of auger assemblies may be most convenient to fit the snow blowing apparatus, including double helix type augers and single band augers. Currently, each type of auger is permanently fitted to the main frame of the snow blowing apparatus, so that two different snow blowing apparatuses would be needed for procuring in alternating fashion both the double helix auger and the single band auger. This is inefficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A snow blowing apparatus is provided for use at one end of a tractor. The snow blowing apparatus is of the convertible type, in that the frame thereof may be provided interchangeably with a single spiralling band auger, or with a pair of helical augers. Indeed, the snow blowing apparatus frame comprises notches at its front part, into which band auger adapters may be mounted when one desires to use the band auger. The band auger is releasably rotatably mounted to the main frame of the snowblowing apparatus, thanks to these adaptors. Driving endless chains connected to the snow blower engine may then run along hollow chain passageways located into the two opposite lateral hollow walls of the snow blower frame, to mesh with the two adaptors of the band auger, so as to rotatingly drive the band auger shaft. In the alternate case, when the double helix auger replaces the single band auger, the band auger adaptors will be completely removed, and the notches will be plugged with hollow covers which will nevertheless enable free passage of the driving chains at the level of the notches. The two screws of the double helix augers will be mounted rotatable in superimposed openings made in the lateral walls of the snow blower apparatus, these openings at different locations from those of the band auger. The driving chains will then be connected to the helix augers to drive same in rotation. The apertures of the helix augers are plugged by means of covers when the band auger is used.

More particularly, the invention relates to a hybrid snow blower kit for use on a vehicle, comprising: a frame for attachment to the vehicle, said frame comprising an opened plow housing portion defining a plow wall having a snow outlet, a pair of first connecting sockets on said plow wall and a pair of second connecting sockets on said plow wall; a powered auger actuator carried by said frame; a first auger assembly that can be installed in said pair of first connecting sockets and rotated by said auger actuator; a second auger assembly that can be installed in said pair of second connecting sockets and rotated by said auger actuator; a discharge chute mounted to said frame and connected to said snow outlet; and a powered blower member in said snow outlet for blowing snow from said plow housing portion through said discharge chute; wherein either one of said first and second auger assemblies of said hybrid snow blower kit can be operatively mounted to said frame.

Preferably, said plow wall comprises first and second hollow portions adjacent to said pairs of first and second connecting sockets, with said hollow portions for housing said auger actuator. Said auger actuator could then comprise a first endless chain rotatable on a first driving gear located in a said hollow portion of said plow wall, said endless chain further being engageable with a first driven gear operatively connected to one of said first and second auger assemblies. Said auger actuator could further comprise a second endless chain rotatable on a second driving gear located in a said hollow portion of said plow wall, said second endless chain further being engageable with a second driven gear operatively connected to one of said first and second auger assemblies.

In one model, said first auger assembly could comprise a helical band member mounted to a central shaft having first and second extremities that can be mounted to said pair of first connecting sockets. In another model, said second auger assembly could comprise a pair of helical augers each comprising a helical blade mounted to a central shaft having first and second extremities that can be mounted to a corresponding one of said pair of second connecting sockets.

The invention also relates to a hybrid snow blower implement for use on a vehicle and for use with either one of a first and a second auger assembly, said hybrid snow blower implement comprising: a frame for attachment to the vehicle, said frame comprising an opened plow housing portion defining a plow wall having a snow oultet, a pair of first connecting sockets on said plow wall and a pair of second connecting sockets on said plow wall; a powered auger actuator carried by said frame; a discharge chute mounted to said frame and connected to said snow outlet; and a powered blower member in said snow outlet for blowing snow from said plow housing portion through said discharge chute; wherein the first auger assembly can be installed in said pair of first connecting sockets and rotated by said auger actuator, and alternately the second auger assembly can be installed in said pair of second connecting sockets and rotated by said auger actuator, whereby said hybrid snow blower implement can be equipped with either one of the first and second auger assemblies.

The invention also relates to a convertible snow blower apparatus for mounting to the front end of an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a rigid main frame, defining a front snow engaging mouth and a rear snow outlet; first mounting means, for operatively mounting a double helix auger to said main frame mouth; second mounting means, for operatively mounting a single band auger to said main frame mouth; wherein said first mounting means must be deactivated for said second mounting means to operate, and wherein said second mounting means must be deactivated for said first mounting means to operate.

Said main frame could then include a rear partition wall and two opposite lateral side walls transversely interconnected at an intermediate portion thereof by said partition wall; and wherein said first mounting means includes two pairs of power drive gear assemblies, releasably mounted to corresponding superimposed portions of said lateral side walls for registering and for releasably and operatively rotatingly engaging with corresponding ones of the two screws of the double helix auger. Said two pairs of power drive gear assemblies preferably operate in unison. In view thereof, each of said lateral side walls is preferably hollow and defines a lower fluid-tight reservoir, said power drive gear assemblies includes an endless chain means having a portion extending through said fluid-tight reservoir, wherein said fluid-tight reservoir is designed to accommodate a volume of lubricating fluid for continuous lubrication of said endless chain means during operation of the double helix auger. A chain tensioning gear means is preferably located within the hollow of said main frame side walls and cooperating with said endless chain means.

Preferably, said main frame side walls each include a forwardly opening cavity; and wherein said second mounting means includes a pair of band auger adaptors, each such adaptor engageable into a corresponding said cavity and releasably mounted to said side walls, and an additional pair of power drive gear assemblies, each mounted into a corresponding one of said adaptors for registering and for releasably and operatively rotatingly engaging with the single band auger.

Said main frame side walls each could include a forwardly opening cavity; said second mounting means including a pair of band auger adaptors, each such adaptor engageable into a corresponding said cavity and releasably mounted to said side walls, and an additional pair of power drive gear assemblies, each mounted into a corresponding one of said adaptors for registering and for releasably and operatively rotatingly engaging with the single band auger; wherein for operative engagement of said endless chain means with said additional pair of power drive gear assemblies of said second mounting means, prior release of said endless chain means from the first-mentioned two pairs of power drive gear assemblies of said first mounting means is required.

Preferably, each of said adaptors is polygonal in shape and said forwardly opening cavities are complementarily shaped to said adaptors, so as to prevent accidental rotation of said adaptors during rotational motion of the single band auger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a tractor shown in schematic view, and fitted with a front-loaded snow blowing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front perspective view of the snow blowing apparatus fitted with a helical band auger;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded view of the auger and drive components of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but being partly broken for clarity of the view of the auger chain drive mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but with the single spiralling band auger being replaced by a pair of superimposed helical screws;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, partial, partly broken, exploded perspective view of the auger and drive components of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but with the single steel band auger replaced by the two superimposed helical screws of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view, at a reduced scale, of the components of FIG. 2, with the single steel band auger removed from the main snow blowing casing, for clarity of the view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a snow plow vehicle 10 having an automotive tractor part 12 and a snow plow apparatus 14 mounted at the front end of the tractor 12. (The snow plow apparatus 14 could alternately be mounted to the aft end of the tractor 12.) Operating arms 16 operatively interconnect snow plow apparatus 14 to the tractor 12. Arms 16 conventionally provide at least support and vertical lift capability, and also possibly tilt and/or roll capability for apparatus 14. An independent power source, for example a conventional hydrostatic motor, 15, is mounted within the snow plow apparatus 14 to provide power to drive the rotatable augers at the front of snow plow apparatus 14. Such augers can be for example either a double helix snow collector 20, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, or a steel band snow collector 22, as illustrated in FIGS. 2-4 for example.

As best illustrated in FIG. 8, snow plow apparatus 14 includes a main rigid frame 24 defining a pair of opposite lateral side walls 26,28, forming a mouth 29 (FIGS. 1 and 5) therebetween, from their front edges 26a, 28a to an intermediate rearward partition wall 32 (see below). Side walls 26,28, are transversely fixedly interconnected at their rear end edges by a rear wall 30. Each side wall 26, 28, forms a hollow casing and is upwardly enlarged at its front portion. A partition wall 32 is further mounted transversely to side walls 26, 28, intermediate rear wall 30 and the front edges 26 a, 28 a, respectively of lateral side walls 26, 28. A large forwardly opening notch 26 b, 28 b, is made through an intermediate height section of each front edge 26 a, 28 a, respectively of side walls 26, 28; notches 26 b, 28 b, extend rearwardly short of the plane of partition wall 32. Each notch 26 b, 28 b, is of generally U-shape but with the legs of the U diverging from one another.

A large snow outlet port 34 is made centrally of partition wall 32, intermediate side walls 26 and 28. An elbowed snow chute 36 is connected at one end to the rearward side of outlet port 34 and opens upwardly at chute top mouth 36a, rearwardly of intermediate partition wall 32, but forwardly of rear wall 30. To the bottom edge of partition wall 32, there is mounted a forwardly downwardly inclined hardened scraping blade 38. Blade 38 defines a frontmost free leading edge 38 a adapted to engage and scrape ground at an operative ground engaging condition of snow plow apparatus 14.

Upon rotation of single band auger 22 or double helix auger 20, any incoming ground snow is scraped by the blade leading edge 38 a, grabbed by the auger 20 or 22, and upon forward advance of snow plow vehicle, pushed through port 34 and outwardly of snow plow apparatus 14 in a directive fashion forcibly through orientable chute 36 and chute mouth 36 a.

With the single band auger 22 of FIGS. 2-4 and. 8, there is preferably added to the front lower edge portion of intermediate partition wall 32, a scraping blade extension assembly 40 (FIG. 8). Extension assembly 40 has a generally flat undersurface 40 a, with the rear end portion thereof flatly abutting over and anchored to the scraping blade 38. The top surface 40 b of scraping blade extension assembly 40 is arcuate, to conformingly adapt to the shape of the freely rotating single band auger 22. The top rear edge of extension assembly, 40 c, also abuts against and is anchored to partition wall 32 by bolts. Blade extension 40 further includes an arcuate upwardly opening notch 40 d, sized and shaped to match the lower part outline of snow outlet port 34 of partition wall 32. Finally, a supplemental scraping blade 38′—similar to scraping blade 38—forms the integral bottom front edge portion of extension assembly 40.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, each screw 20′, 20″, of the double helix auger 20 defines a rotatable shaft 42′, 42″, along which lengthwisely spirals a helical full blade 44′, 44″, respectively. The radius of each full blade 44′, 44″, may be for example 20 inches (about 50 cm). Alternately, as shown in FIG. 4, each single band auger 22 defines a rotatable shaft 46 to which are connected in radially spaced fashion a number of rigid spiralling bands 48 by radial connector arms 50. The radial distance between shaft 46 and each spiralling band 48 (radially spaced from shaft 46) may be for example 42 inches (about 106 cm).

As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, each shaft 42′, 42″ is mounted in vertically superimposed, generally parallel fashion to the main frame 24 by engagement of each of the two opposite ends thereof into the hollow side walls 26, 28. More specifically, each of the two opposite ends of each shaft 42′, 42″, includes an enlarged collar 52, to which is peripherally bolted in releasable fashion a correspondingly sized circular plate 54. An integral drive axle 56 extends orthogonally from circular plate 54 at one end thereof, for releasable meshing engagement with a gear wheel 58′ (58″). A bore 60 is made on the inner face of the front portion of hollow side wall 26 or 28, for free through passage of rotatable drive axle 56, wherein gear wheel 58′ (58″) is mounted into the hollow of each side wall casing 26, 28. A bored support bracket 62 is sandwiched between circular plate 54 and the inner face of side wall 26 or 28, and is engaged rotatably by drive axle 56. A spacer bracket 63 is in turn fixedly mounted intermediate the inner face of side wall 26, 28, and the gear wheel 58′, 58″, respectively.

A power source, such as a hydrostatic power output, 15, but conventional, is mounted to main frame 24 within the hollow of side wall casings 26, 28, at a location intermediate rear wall 30 and intermediate partition wall 32. This power source feeds power to a power axle 64 (FIG. 7), carrying rotatably a power gear 66 so that gear 66 be coplanar to gear wheels 58′, 58″. An endless chain 68 meshes with gear wheels 58′, 58″ and with power axle 64, while a tensioning gear assembly 70 is further provided within the hollow of side wall casings 26,28, to mesh with chain 68 at a location intermediate lower gear wheel 58″ and power axle 64, to enable adjustment of the tensioning of endless chain 68, in particular when there is new selection between augers 20 and 22. Accordingly, shafts 42′, 42″ rotate in unison under power from power axle 64 via drive gears 58′, 58″.

As suggested in FIG. 7, the lower front portion of the hollow of side walls 26, 28, corresponding to the portion through which extend lower gearwheel 58″, is made to form an oil-tight reservoir 72. Lubricating oil is preferably made to fill at least part of the the oil-tight reservoir 72, wherein the lower leg of endless chain extending between lower gear wheel 58″ and power gear wheel 66 will continuously bathe into lubricating oil, thus providing lubrication for all the length of chain 68 when power gear 66 rotates.

As suggested in FIGS. 5-6 of the drawings, access to gear wheels 58′, 58″, 64 and to tensioning gear assembly 70, for maintenance purposes, is facilitated by providing releasable plugs 74, 76, 78, 80 (see FIG. 5 for example) engaging four access ports 74 a, 76 a, 78 a, 80 a, made on the outer face of each side walls 26, 28, in register with these gear wheels and gear assembly, respectively.

As suggested in FIG. 7, front notches 26 b, 28 b should be sealingly closed during operation of the double helix auger 20, to prevent snow, ice, water, weathering elements and other outside contaminants from damaging the leg of endless belt 68 running generally vertically between gear wheels 58′ and 58″ of each side wall 26, 28, respectively, as this latter leg of endless belt 68 extends through the notch 26 b or 28 b i.e. outside of the hollow of side wall casings 26 or 28. To this end, there is releasably added a hollow sealing unit 82′, 82″, to close the corresponding notches 26 b, 28 b, when the double helix auger 20 is used.

Conversely, as shown in FIGS. 2-4 of the drawings, when the single bands auger 22 is in use, sealing units 82′, 82″ are removed, wherein notches 26 b, 28 b, are free to now accommodate correspondingly sized and shaped polygonal hollow adaptors 84 to be mounted at opposite ends of single shaft 46 of auger 22. Adaptor 84 forms a polygonal flat hollow casing, having rear apertures 84a for free downwardly rearwardly inclined through passage of endless chain 68 towards power gear 78 (gears 58′, 58″, have been released in this mode). Shaft 46 also includes at each of its opposite ends an enlarged collar 86, fixedly engaged by a circular plate 88. Plate 88 has a central threaded bore 88a for threaded engagement by axle 90. Axle 90 carries an outer drive gear 92 rotatably lodged into the hollow of adaptor 84. Gear 92 is coplanar to gears 58′, 58″. A bracket 94 is sandwiched between circular plate 88 and the flat polygonal casing 84, and removably interconnects axle 90 coaxially to shaft 46. A plug 96 releasably closes a maintenance access port 96a on the exterior face of adaptor casing 84. Endless chain 68 releases both upper and lower gear wheels 58′, 58″, and instead engages drive gear 92. Engagement with power gear 78 and tensioning gear 70 is also maintained with auger 22.

Because there is only one rotating shaft 46 with the steel band auger 22, the net length of the drive chain 68 therefore may be shorter compared to that of the double helix auger 20 (which has two shafts 42′, 42″), as controlled by tensioning gear 70.

Although reference has been made to a double helix auger and to a single band auger to be fitted to the main frame of the snow blowing apparatus in alternating fashion, it is understood that other types of similar mechanical implements—not limited to snow removal equipment—could be releasably mounted to the gear assembly 58′, 58″, 66, 70, or to gear assembly 92, 66, 70, in convertible fashion as disclosed in the present invention. Also, the exact position of the apparatus main frame 14 relative to automotive vehicle 12 is not important; it could be anywhere, in front, at the rear, or on a lateral side thereof, provided motion of main frame 14 could be imparted in such a way that ground snow would engage through and into the main frame open mouth 29 ahead of augers 20 or 22. 

1. A hybrid snow blower kit for use on a vehicle, comprising: a frame for attachment to the vehicle, said frame comprising an opened plow housing portion defining a plow wall having a snow outlet, a pair of first connecting sockets on said plow wall and a pair of second connecting sockets on said plow wall; a powered auger actuator carried by said frame; a first auger assembly that can be installed in said pair of first connecting sockets and rotated by said auger actuator; a second auger assembly that can be installed in said pair of second connecting sockets and rotated by said auger actuator; a discharge chute mounted to said frame and connected to said snow outlet; and a powered blower member in said snow outlet for blowing snow from said plow housing portion through said discharge chute; wherein either one of said first and second auger assemblies of said hybrid snow blower kit can be operatively mounted to said frame.
 2. A hybrid snow blower kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said plow wall comprises first and second hollow portions adjacent to said pairs of first and second connecting sockets, with said hollow portions for housing said auger actuator.
 3. A hybrid snow blower kit as defined in claim 2, wherein said auger actuator comprises a first endless chain rotatable on a first driving gear located in a said hollow portion of said plow wall, said endless chain further being engageable with a first driven gear operatively connected to one of said first and second auger assemblies.
 4. A hybrid snow blower kit as defined in claim 3, wherein said auger actuator comprises a second endless chain rotatable on a second driving gear located in a said hollow portion of said plow wall, said second endless chain further being engageable with a second driven gear operatively connected to one of said first and second auger assemblies.
 5. A hybrid snow blower kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said first auger assembly comprises a helical band member mounted to a central shaft having first and second extremities that can be mounted to said pair of first connecting sockets.
 6. A hybrid snow blower kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said second auger assembly comprises a pair of helical augers each comprising a helical blade mounted to a central shaft having first and second extremities that can be mounted to a corresponding one of said pair of second connecting sockets.
 7. A hybrid snow blower implement for use on a vehicle and for use with either one of a first and a second auger assembly, said hybrid snow blower implement comprising: a frame for attachment to the vehicle, said frame comprising an opened plow housing portion defining a plow wall having a snow oultet, a pair of first connecting sockets on said plow wall and a pair of second connecting sockets on said plow wall; a powered auger actuator carried by said frame; a discharge chute mounted to said frame and connected to said snow outlet; and a powered blower member in said snow outlet for blowing snow from said plow housing portion through said discharge chute; wherein the first auger assembly can be installed in said pair of first connecting sockets and rotated by said auger actuator, and alternately the second auger assembly can be installed in said pair of second connecting sockets and rotated by said auger actuator, whereby said hybrid snow blower implement can be equipped with either one of the first and second auger assemblies.
 8. A convertible snow blower apparatus for mounting to the front end of an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a) a rigid main frame, defining a front snow engaging mouth and a rear snow outlet; b) first mounting means, for operatively mounting a double helix auger to said main frame mouth; c) second mounting means, for operatively mounting a single band auger to said main frame mouth; wherein said first mounting means must be deactivated for said second mounting means to operate, and wherein said second mounting means must be deactivated for said first mounting means to operate.
 9. A convertible snow blower apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said main frame includes a rear partition wall and two opposite lateral side walls transversely interconnected at an intermediate portion thereof by said partition wall; and wherein said first mounting means includes two pairs of power drive gear assemblies, releasably mounted to corresponding superimposed portions of said lateral side walls for registering and for releasably and operatively rotatingly engaging with corresponding ones of the two screws of the double helix auger.
 10. A convertible snow blower apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said two pairs of power drive gear assemblies operate in unison.
 11. A convertible snow blower apparatus as in claim 10, wherein each of said lateral side walls forms a hollow casing and defines a fluid-tight reservoir at a lower portion thereof, said power drive gear assemblies including an endless chain means having a portion thereof extending through said fluid-tight reservoir, wherein said fluid-tight reservoir is designed to accommodate a volume of lubricating fluid for continuous lubrication of said endless chain means during operation of the double helix auger.
 12. A convertible snow blower apparatus as in claim 11, further including a chain tensioning gear means, located within the hollow casing of said main frame side walls and cooperating with said endless chain means.
 13. A convertible snow blower apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said main frame side walls each include a forwardly intermediate height opening cavity; and wherein said second mounting means includes a pair of band auger adaptors, each such adaptor engageable into a corresponding one of said cavities and releasably mounted to corresponding said side walls, and an additional pair of power drive gear assemblies, each mounted into a corresponding one of said adaptors for registering and for releasably and operatively rotatingly engaging with the single band auger upon prior release of the first mentioned said two pairs of power drive gear assemblies from the double helix auger.
 14. A convertible snow blower apparatus as in claim 11, with said main frame side walls each include a forwardly opening intermediate height cavity; said second mounting means including a pair of band auger adaptors, each such adaptor engageable into a corresponding one of said cavities and releasably mounted to corresponding said side walls, and an additional pair of power drive gear assemblies, each mounted into a corresponding one of said adaptors for registering and for releasably and operatively rotatingly engaging with the single band auger; wherein for operative engagement of said endless chain means with said additional pair of power drive gear assemblies of said second mounting means, prior release of said endless chain means from the first-mentioned two pairs of power drive gear assemblies of said first mounting means is required.
 15. A convertible snow blower apparatus as in claim 14, wherein each of said adaptors is polygonal in shape and said forwardly opening cavities are complementarily shaped to said adaptors. 